The Sun. — London, England, 1838-09-01 00:00:00

le toil e d in the noisome and unnatural vocation to which he had devoted himself, until he could see nothing but what was despicable o r revo l t i ng in human nature; and thus was created lxl is mind that bleak want, which is discernible throughout Its melancholy history, and which of necessity begot those fee lings of bi tter i so l at i on, those mysterious repinings, which !'e the a ll otted punishment of him who has looked too far into the secret things of nature, and thus in a measure unfitted himself f or the state in which he lives. For there is a feeling W hich should be regarded, because God has given it largely to he re, whi c h s h ould be valued because it is necessary to our living „'re, as G o d wou l d have us live, which should be cherished, b ec ause resist ance or even neg l ect may for ever ki ll i t, an d That is a certain feeling of respect for human nature—the power of seeing it, not as an unvaried mass of what is sordid, despicable, and base, but as it is, the strange combination of °Pnosites, the melancholy and mysterious union of strength weakness, b eauty an d d e f orm i ty , g l ory an d s h am e—the Wish' among all the jarring elements of our constellation, to see, to ac k nowledge, and to honour the fragments of a grander and angelic nature; but in the mind of Swift that feeling was t w ithered an d gone, almost before the m i n d i tse lf h a d atta i ne d 5 maturity. It is a melancholy spectacle to behold the alternate yearn- Pgs and reco ili ngs of a mind thus se lf-di veste d o f s ympathy, the incompleteness of all its friendships, the c onflicting struggles °I the double nature, the ever-wakeful repinings, the ever recurring bi tterness, t h e ta i nt w hi c h m ass the sweetness of ev erything, ~p utidurn latet alerts in ore." But although Swift that of seeing and making others see whatever was imperfect an d mean within it, he was not a misanthrope ; he was capable fe;, ! warm and tender attachments, and of affections and emo tions, which would have appeared too soft and too delicate for a mind lik e hi s . The anecdotes related, I think in Sheridan's, certainly in Scott's Life of Swift, strongly illustrate this. When Sheridan was breaking up his establishment and leaving Dublin, Swift paid him a last visit, and having sat for a long li me sullenly silent in the midst of the friends who were just about to depart, he suddenly arose and rushed into an inner room, where they found him in floods of tears—he wept long and bitterly. There is something touching, almost beautiful, in this spectacle. The stoic, the satiric, the sarcastic Swift, f orgetting his stoicism, his coldness, and his pride, and weep rag' with the unreserved a b an d onment an d bi tterness o f a child —for neither the habitual labours of satire and of sarcastic t hought, nor all the efforts of contemptuous philosophy, have e 'er yet availed to annihilate the beautiful and generous weak nesses of our nature, or even successfully to smother their ex- PFessions—nor has man achieved over himself even this poor s tory and though the last p a ge in the history of Swift ords, i n the utter, abject, irrecoverable prostration of a grand and noble intellect, a memorable warning to those who could envy the lot o f gen i us , or ta k e pr id e in the devices and le °f man ; vet the same instruction, if not as forcibly, at r l as unequivocally, is conveyed in the life of almost every 'tn corded gen i us ; for it is most true that we have never fully t4e o wn the history of a great intellect, without being therefrom is Chet ,the solemn and abasing lesson—that the mind, which th er '°rY. is also the punishment of 'hunger ossessor. For either th in e are the vague aspirations, the and thirst after th ings which the world never will have to give—the unuttered, abimeLterable sufferings, the unsatisfied cravings, the unappease shr:Piaings which are unresting weariness and bitterness. e re are the fearful misgivings, the dreadful doubts, the rtnsunedneetrstatiiinety of its own permanence and security, which ter rain& dogging it like a spectre through the soli_ a r ,i n : and me e ti ng i t at every turn ; the awful feeling which swiftttted t h e prayers of Johnson and darkened the life of ruin, b nd was th e h orror o f i nsan i ty or o f idi otcy , o f menta l ebri etr A ayed by th great men, but a weakness ? The sts on stia n will say yes ; e but never yet was there found faith so ie to t q , as without a shudder helplessly to surrender the mind i s it hand s o f t h e living God; and yet of what consequence latt er ether the mind and body die together, or whether the sh ert ',Ple poor ph ys i ca l structure, shall, like Swift's, for a dri, ei ` l .me survive the period of mental death, to mope and w orld ? ? 1 , idiotcy a lesson of humility and fear to the gazing " 1 , d epth e P Itha s Vow," by John Fraser, is a poem in which th ey f feeling and strength of passion are as happily as and hi, beautifully blended. The characters of Jephtha The ns u titerconceptions of a high dramatic order. but Royal Confession" is a tale of considerable power, s general effect is marred by its extreme improba .bilit.7B: is th e manner o f d eve l op i ng t h e i nc id ents o f poet s °l at all happy. With the article on " Turkish d e li,l7'' every l over o f O r i enta l Li terature w ill b e great l y tqu e h tea . We did not think it possible to preserve so as we f the spirit o f T ur ki s h poet r y i n a n E ng li s h d r e ss , arti c l e "adin some of the verses here introduced. This " b u b,ad Mr. F raser ' s poem are the best things in the Whol e ' ln M s brilli an t than agazine" for this month, which, taken as a ) 1 8 les . 13'/CT. l ONARY OF ARTS, MANUFACTURES, AND lIIINES.—PART I. laroo_oo s e °ter tore is the editor of this periodical, which it is piet P e it d , is sue in Monthly Parts, ten . of which w ill co rn • oct plan is to give j ust d e s criptions cf and 111 - ° di t ies which usually form the staple of commerce, f il _,a s ise to instruct capitalists as to how they may turn then.. funds i to a rational and profitable account. He has " more clear en view' to give to Members of Parliament, such a then., frloPosition of our staple manufactures as may prevent enterp r i se lll 4.ar nincr regulations, the end of which is to check havenWe and i ndustry. Such a work was much wanted ; o hesitation, therefore, in giving our cordial ap probationw. to this periodical, which appears to be conducted Lth co nsiderabl e ability. FINE ARTS. 'SCENERY OF EDINBURGH AND MID LOTHIAN. of We have h ere t en engrav : ngs ill ustrat i ve of the city nEdinb urg h an d the a dj acent scenery. They have s' h executed by Mr. W. B. Scott, from designs fur led by his brother ; and we can speak to their R : 4 : acy not less than to their high finish as en- C ' C ln s• The sketches, in particular, of Roslin w a Pel. and Hawthornden are skillfully and tastefully tiot°llght, and show that the artist has a thorough apprecia ri: { ?fthe picturesque. Mr. Scott must continue this se for ‘ Q " t hey give us a juster idea of the romantic scenery The environs . the Scottish capital than we have yet . had. o s Y e vve , uld bind up admirably with the duodecimo editions e z ° tt novels and poems. To each plate are attached PLauations, written with much grace and fluency. G UILDHALL —(THIS DAY.) T'ho, %i th b "s Eaton was charged by a person named Gibbons a/i gng wantonly and cruelly ill-treated an ox in Smith- The Mark t. " FL . e, th e 4"e complainant, who stated himself to be an office!: of on 14 1141141 5' Friend Society, deposed that about two o'clock or, hi s afternoon l as t, h e saw th e d e f en d an t , w h o h a d the h suad go, No. 80, cruelly b ea t th e ox over th e h ea d w i t h butt end o f a stick. th e ,rhe defendant denied the charge, and stated that he left ho.Rlarket at half past twelve, and did not return until about past thr ee . This statement was corroborated by the de g) a nts father, and by a person named Johnson, in his em tirnY, the only variation being that the latter mentioned the th ° Ming Eaton's return as three o'clock. idernlan VENABLES said that it was with great reluctance tt t Ile threw any impediment in the way of Mr. Gompertz or any 114.er:individual who wished to prevent cruelty to animals. But he w l evcd that what the complainant had asserted on his oath „„, a ; not true. He had stated that this took place about two th e . ° Fit, and it was proved that the defendant was not there at Fit, ? ibb ons_Half-past two. :pAlderman VENABLES-You said about two, and so it is a led in the information. lam not saying that you intended bdo this, but it shows a carelessness in giving evidence, which t tst dis qua lify y ou f or th e office ; and if Mr. Gomp er t z were r,2 I sh ou ld tell him you are n o t a fit p erson . The charge was then dismissed. BOW-STREET.-(THIS DAY.) John H ea d , a porter res idi ng i n Bl ue Cross-street, St. 1 4 ,- 11 , es's, was charged on suspicion with illegally possessing a "L• Bank of England note, the property of the Travellers' ‘ 211 ., 111 , und er t h e f o ll ow i ng c i rcumstances. It fro m th e ev id ence t h at a l amp -li g h ter name d H o l land, who usually lights the Club-house, was sent last r i „, 4 ing by Mr. Witten, his employer, with an order and the pielin question to procure some oil. When h e go t t o th e s h o p ted . in pulling out the order he dropped th e no t e , w hi c h was up by two bo • who were waiting to hold horses at e har' 3s t Ing-eross Post -office. The little fellows, supposing the 11!1)2 belong e d to a gentleman who had just passed, ran after hp In give hi m up, as they supposed, his property ; but as t o ' n ew nothing o f i t, h e declined to have anything her with with it, and on their return they were met by the priso -2s.'l.whn was loitering about, and from whom they obtained po- ho it. The bays instantly related the circumstance to a h ot . I °Y but the prisoner ran off with his prize, and was ~tiy after taken into custody. wi',4r; MiNsueu, ordered him to be remanded, in order to 'e time for farther inquiry. , the I t eriterday a f ternoon, between three and four o'clock, ina body o f a respectably-dressed young woman was discovered Jewell, shepherd to Mr. Wright, th e b an k er, of Henrietta stret ,_, s , v;ovent-garden, wa s atten di ng a flock of sheep, when I d. att ention was drawn by hi s d og standing on the bank of a t ch and barking violently. On going to the spot he dis covered the body. The parish surgeon subsequently exa httlajoed the body, but no marks of violence were detected, and , gave his opinion that she had poisoned herself. No money tit. other Property was found on her person, nor any papers or iricitrients to lead to her identity. She is about five feet four ot e l,'es in height, apparently about twenty-four years of age, bias comp . lexion, and . very interesting cast of features. She b, dressed in a black silk gown, fancy bonnet with blz , ck veil, eke Place silk stockings, and side-laced boots. The inquest will 4 ,,e Place on Monday. us Th e Duchesses of Buccleuch, Hamilton, and Leeds, th e Mar chionesses of Breadalbane, Normanby, and Aylesbury, dale Marchionesses of Bruce, Lady Kinnaird, and the Earl of Lons to tot; have recently added their names . as liberal subscribers 13e, e list of illustrious and influential supporters to the Royal tlgrave Lying-in Institution ; a Charity which confers ex -411,,3iye benefit on a deserving class of females, among whom v many w h o h ave seer ! far happier days. WINDSOR.-FRIDAY. This afternoon the Queen, accompanied by the followin g personages on horseback, rode in the park , and visited Vir g inia Water :—Baroness Lehzen, Lady Miry Stopford, Hon. Mis i Murray, Viscount Torrington, Viscount Melbourne, Hon. C. A. Murray, Hon. Colonel Cavendish, and Miss Quentin. The Duchess of Hamilton took an airing in a close carriage, accompanied by the Hon. Miss Pitt. The Envoy from the Imaum of Muscat, and Captain Cogan, of the Indian Navy, and Viscount Palmerston, tools their de parture. Colonel Bouverie and Captain Pitt, of the Royal Blues, and Mr. and Lady Fanny Howard, will have the honour of dining with her Majesty this evening. The band of the Coldstream Guards played at the Caste last night, and were complimented by her Majesty, through Colonel Cavendish, on their talented performances. COURT CIRCULAR. Captain Bagot, Royal Navy, arrived at the Colonial-office yesterday, from Bristol, with despatches from the Earl of Durham, Governor of the Canadas. The erection of a new staircase at Buckingham Palace has been commenced, leading from the north-end of the sculp ture gallery to her Majesty's private apartments. The present private staircase will be taken down. The Crown Prince of Hanover continues at Nordenayc. His Royal Highness is expected to remain there three weeks longer. Mr. Colquhoun transacted business yesterday at the Fo reign-office. FASHIONABLE INTELLIGENCE. DEPARTURES. Lord and Lady Stuart de Rothesay, from Carlton House terrace, for their seat, High Cliffo, Christchurch, Dorset ; Lord and Lady Grosvenor, from Park-street, on a continental tour ; the Duke of Marlborough, from Albemarle -street, for Dover ; Sir Tremayne and Lady Rodd, from Wimpole-street ' for Tunbridge Wells, Kent; the Marquis and Marchi oness of Breadalbane, from Park-lane, on a continental tour • Lord and Lady Huntingdon, for their scat in Ireland ; Mar quis and Marchioness of Salisbury, from Arliogton-street, on a tour of visits; Colonel and Lady Caroline Bulkeley, for Longford Castle, Wilts, on a visit to the Earl of Radnor ; Sir Bethell and Lady Codrington, from Park-lane, for their seat, Doddington Castle, Gloucestershire; the Earl of Pem broke, from Grafton- street, from his hotel, at Paris ; Vis count and Viscountess Canning, from Grosvenor-square, for their seat in Dorsetshire ; the Earl of Charlemont, from Grosvenor-street, for his seat in Ireland ; Lord Hill, from Belgrave-square, for his scat, Hardwicke Grange, Shrews bury ; the Dowager Countess Cowper, from Maddox-street, for Pansanger, Herts, on a visit to the Earl and Countess Cowper ; Mr. Thomas and Lady Louisa Whitmore, from Park-street, for their seat, Cotsbrooke, Shiffnal ; the Duke of Dorset, from Harley-street, for Brighton ; Sir Edward and Lady Filmer, for their seat, near Maidstone ; the Earl of Effingham, from Bond-street, for Warwickshire ; Sir Francis and Lady Burdett, from St. James's-place, for their seat, Rainsbury Manor, Wilts ; Dowager Lady Rodney and the Hon. Mr. and Miss Rodney, from Harley -street, for their seat, Berrington, Leominster, Herefordshire; Sir Alexander and Lady Caldwell, for Cheltenham ; Lord and Lady Col chester, from Great Cumberland-street, for Brighton ; the Earl Cadogan, from Piccadilly, for a fishing excursion in Scotland ; Lord Caltharpe, from Grosvenor-square, for his seat in Warwickshire ; Lady Louisa Lygon, from St. James's square, for Brighton ; Sir Wilmot Horton, for Sussex ; the Dowager Viscountess Downe, from Charles-street, Berkeley square, for Came House, near Bridgewater; Vicount Ebring ton, from Grosvenor-square, on a visit to the Earl and Countess Fortescue, at Castle Hill, Devon ; the Earl of Malmesbury, from Whitehall-gardens, for his seat, Heron Court, Christchurch ; the Earl and Countess of Mansfield, and the Ladies Murray, from Caen Wood, for their scat, Scone Palace, Perthshire. The Earl and Countess of Shrewsbury are expected in Stanhope-street, in a fortnight, from Alton Towers, Derby shire, en route to Rome, where they will winter. The nuptials of Lady Mary Talbot with Prince Doria will be solemnised by a Cardinal of the Holy Roman Church at the palazzo of the young Prince's father, at Rome. - - Lord James O'Bryen, Sir John and Lady Conroy, Sir C. and Lady Napier, Hon. W. H. Yelverton, Hun. Mr. Knox, and Colonel Peel are among the fashionable arrivals at Tenby, Wales. Lord Leveson, M.P., has left the Earl of Carlisle's seat in the north of Scotland for Gordon Castle, Focha bers, N. 8., on a visit to the Duke and Duchess of Rich mond, where Lord and Laly Suffield, Lord Cantilupe, Lord George Bentinck, Lord Alfred Paget, and a largo circle have assembled. Lord and Lady Willoughby D'Eresby and the Hon. Misses Willoughby arrived at Drummond d,istle on Tuesday last, from Grimsthorpe, Lincolnshire. The Noble Lord and Lady will receive company next week. His Excellency Prince Schwarzenberg (Ambassa dor Extraordinary from Austria) and Princess Sellwarzen berg, attended by Prince Alfred de Windesh-Gratz, Ceuut Erdody, and County de Grunne, attaches to the Embassy Ex traordinary, arrived at their mansion, in Laegham-place, from Taymouth Castle, the seat of the Marquis of Breadalbane, in Scotland, on Thursday evening. Their Excellencies have made an extensive tour, and paid numerous visits to the No bility at their respective seats. The Youthful family of the Earl and Countess of Burlington have left Eastbourne, Sussex, for Aix-la-Chapelle, to join their Noble parents, who intend sojourning at that esteemed spa for fourteen weeks. The family circle as sembled at Aix consists of the Duke of Devonshire, E irl and Countess of Granville, Ladies Leveson Gower, Er.rl and Countess of Burlington, &c. The Hon. Compton C. Caven dish, M. p. and Lady Catherine Cavendish and family, are expected to join the party in a few days. The contemplated marriage between the Earl of Sandwich and Lady Mary Paget is expected to be solemnised on Thursday next at St. George's Church, Hanover-square. The Noble bridegroom elect has arrived at the mansion of his mother, the Countess of Sandwich, on Carlton-terrace, from a visit to the Marquis of Anglesey. at West Cowes Castle. The Earl of Uxbridge is expected to come up from his seat at Maple Hayes to attend the ceremony. It is remarkable that all the daughters of the Noble and Gallant Marquis have married Peers except one, Lady Agnes Byng, and her husband is heir apparent to the Peerage of his father, Lord Strafford. Lord Robert Grosvenor has, we regret to hear, been again labouring under indisposition at his house in Park- street ; his Lordship has been attended by Sir James Clark and Mr. Thompson, who have recommended him to pass the winter and spring in a warm climate. His Lordship, with Lady Robert Grosvenor and their children, left London for Antwerp, by the Victoria steamer, on Thursday. RYDE (ISLE OF WIGHT), AUG. 30.—The Mar quis and March'.oness of Londonderry, and the Ladies Vane Stewart, have embarked for Southampton, on their way to their seat, \Vynyard House, near Stockton-upon-Tees. The Earl and Countess of Chesterfield, in his Lordship's cutter yacht, have sailed on a short voyage to the coast of France. Our regatta, to which Mr. Fleming, M. P. for South Hants, liberally contributed, passed off with great eclat, notwithstand ing it blew a gale while the wherries and pilot boats were con tending for the prizes. There was an exhibition of fireworks on the pier to conclude the amusements of the day, and the regatta ball at the Assembly-rooms was attended by 150 vi siters and residents. Our recent arrivals include Lord and Lady Manners, Sir Henry and Lady Rivers, Lord and Lady Corry and family, Lady Isabella and Miss Blachford, Captain Bentinck, Lord and Lady Norreys, Lady Harriet D'Orsay, Count D'Orsay, &c. WROTIIA PA RK.-Mr. Byng, the venerable Member for Middlesex, will give his annual harvest home to his numerous tenantry, tradespeople, &c., as soon as the corn is got in. The Hon. Member superintends the labours of his workpeople. The Right Hon. George Byng, Comptroller of the Household, left Wrotham yesterday, for his shooting lodge, near the Marquis of Bristol's, Isleworth Park, Bury St. Edmund's. Lord arid Lady John Thynne are expected on a visit to Mr. and Mrs. Byng in a few days. LEAMINGTON SPA, AUG. 30.—Next, week is ex pected to be a very gay week with us, owing to the Warwick races, which commence on Tuesday next. The Leamington stakes arc to be run for on that day, and a grand ball is an nounced at the Upper Assembly Rooms, under the auspices of the stewards of the races. M. Strauss gave a grand morning concert at the Assembly Rooms yesterday. The room was crowded to exce's, and the performances were greatly ap plauded. The Marquis and Marchioness of Clanricarde have arrived at the Clarendon Hotel from town. Viscount and Viscountess Eastnor and family are expected at Victoria Cot tage. Count D'Orsay and the Countess of Blessington have arrived from town. The Dowager Duchess of Roxburghe and Colonel O'Reilly have taken their departure after a brief sojourn. Sir Edward Mostyn, whose arrival has been already mentioned, has purchased a mansion on York-terrace. Sir Ste phen Glynne, Bart., M. P., Lady Glynne and daughters, have arrived from their seat in Flintshire. Lord Blayncy has left for Blayney Castle in Ireland. Arrivals—The Earl of Effing ham, in Beauchamp-place ; the Hon. Captain and Mrs. Somerville, in Lansdowne-place ; Lady Brenton, in Grove street; Sir Henry Bedingfield, Lord James Butler, Gen. and Mr. Johnson, General Bradshaw, &c. BARTHOLOMEW FAIR.—LADY HOLLAND'S Mon.—On the night before the day whereon the Lord Mayor proclaims the fair, a riotous assemblage of persons heretofore disturbed Smithfield and its environs, under the denomination of " Lady Holland's mob." This multitude, composed of the most degraded characters of the metropolis, was accustomed to knock at the doors and ring the bells, with loud shouting and vociferation ; and they often committed gross outrages on per sons and property. It has been supposed that this mob first arose, and has been continued, in celebration of a verdict ob.. tamed by a Mr. Holland, which freed the fair from toll ; but this is erroneous. " Lady Holland's mob may be traced so far back as the times of the Commonwealth, when the ruling powers made considerable efforts to suppress the fair alto gether ; and when it appears that the populace determined to support what they called their " charter," under the colour of the " Holland" interest in opposition to the civic authorities. The scene of uproar always commenced in Cloth-fair, and the annual custom still exists there. In the prison for juvenile offenders at Rotterdam, the boys confined are condemned for periods varying from six mouths to two, three, or six years ; and one boy in the prison has been sentenced to fifteen years' confinement. THE SUN, LONDON, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1, 1838. PRICE OF SUGAR. EFFECTS OF THE BOUNTY. Table showing the ex-duty price of West India Sugar In Mincing_ lane, and comparing the same against the price of foreign sugars : London, Aug. 31, 1838. The Gazette this day quotes the average price of British Per cwt. Plantation Muscovado Sugar, exclusive of duty, at 2Bs. 100. Muscovado Sugars raised by free labour in the Manilla— which are frequently bought by the Dutch to be refined, and then to be resold in the River Thames—in competi tion with British refined Sugars for exportation—may be had at from 19s. to 225. per cwt., being about Gs. 10d. per cwt. cheaper than West India Sugars. Relined Sugar, equal in quality to double refined (the manu facture of it costing ss. per cwt.) has been sold this week (free on board) at Deducting shipping charges 2s. 2d. Is. Id. which is 2s. 2id. per cwt dearer only than the Muscovado sugar from which it is made, being a loss to the sugar re finer of 2s. lOd.per cwt., which the bounty on exportation reimburses him. British treacle is worth Ss. 6d. per cwt. in the foreign markets. The same has I . can sold this week in London, free of duty, at 235. per cwt., being an excess of price paid by the British consumer of 16s. 6d. per cwt., in other words 16s. Gd. per cwt. on treacle paid by the poor man towards bourity, and not, as it is erroneously supposed, towards revenue. British Plantation Coffee, through favouritism in the duty, commands about 565. per cwt. more than Foreign Coffee of a similar quality : thus Jamaica Coffee sold at 98s. per cwt. would, if the same had been the produce of St. Domingo, have fetched 425. per cwt. only. POPULATION OF THE HIGHLANDS The common custom is, that when the son or daughter of a loiter or crofter marries, the newly married couple are re ceived by the parents of either party, with whom they live for some time as one family; but eventually the said parents cut off a portion from their own little possessions, for the young people, on which they build a house, and become liable to pay the original occupier a share of the rent, in proportion to what was thus allowed them in subset. The old people who origi nally occupied the lot or croft, generally portion oil their lands in as many shares as they have sons and daughters unmarried. In some time after the first member of the family marries, another does the same, who immediately gets his share of the croft, and builds his house, then another and another, until the original occupier be ultimately left with a share no larger than any of those given away to his children. He stands as federal head over the whole, and is alone accountable for the rents to the proprietor. All this takes place on a tenure of land too small for the comfortable support of the original occupier. On many farms, by means of this baneful system, the population has doubled within the last sixteen years. The sub-tenants just mentioned can never raise the rents from the produce of their possessions. At times they cannot keep a single cow upon them to furnish their children with a little milk. They trust to chance employment for means to pay for their contracted possessions, which tend, in general, to no purpose but to bind them in poverty to one locality. It must also be con sidered, that, notwithstanding this continued sub-division, there are more families who have no land than there are who have. An example of this may be given from Kilmuir, ex clusive of the Government district attached to it. In the parish just mentioned, there were in February last (1837) 421 families, and the number of lots and crofts, together with four farms occupied by large tacksmen, is only 190. From this it is seen that 231 families have no land whatever from the pro prietor. Of these 231 families, 101 hold shares of lots and crofts, as above described, and the remaining 130 families oc cupy lands in no shape whatever, but subsist upon the half-foot system, which will be immediately described.—Quarterly Journal of Agriculture, just published. THE ACME OF AUCTIONEERS. We may, or we may not, be critically correct in using this expression. We know not and we care not. When one is full of subject, he cannot stop to measure his words by square and compasses— per audaces nova dithyrambos Verba devolvit ; numerisque fertur Lege solutis." And so it may have been with ourselves. But admitting hat it were so—what then? The fact remains unaltered ,hat George Robins stands alone as a knocker•up of compe ,ition and a knocker-down of properties ; he has achieved what the people of the Buonaparte-school would call an Eu ropean reputation ; his fame remains quite independent of our fault—if fault be ours in describing him as the " Acme of Auctioneers." We have so long thought, and, we may be allowed to say, so often said this, though perhaps in other words, that the re petition of it will not excite surprise : the surprise must spring from quite a different source. An unaccountable apathy on the subject of this great man has, in a considerable degree, marked the public press. Against such apathy modest merit has most usually to strive in vain; and it is therefore with sur prise—though we confess with great gratification—that in the instance of George Robins the opprobrium has been splendidly removed from the " fourth estate." We could find it in our hearts to be ourselves eloquent on the subject of the most eloquent man of modern days ; but la place est prise—what could one say that would come up to the following beautiful burst, to which our attention has been called, and the merit of which is due to a provincial contemporary ?-111orning Post. THE LANDED INTEREST—Ma. GEO. ROBINS. When Mr. George Robins last paid us a visit, the Mon mouthshire Merlin had to congratulate the landed interest on the bright prospect which his talents and great energy had opened to it. By a manner peculiarly his owis—by a mode of 'lcing the prominent features of his subject before the public eye—and which it was impossible for the public not to duly app -cciate, he had in several instances in this, and the neigh bouring counties, obtained prices for property which we our selves knew caused wonder as well as joy, among those who were his then clients—and ever afterwards his most grateful friends. If he was not quite so successful in the performance of his duties last week, in Monmouth and Ross, the fault is surely not to be attributed to him, for never did auctioneer speak more eloquently—never were those " who had money to lay out," more forcibly and urgently appealed to—but to circum. stances over which he could have no control. Millstone and 131ackbrook are names of places well known in Monmouth shire. The former fine estate was selected by the late gallant General Brownrigge, on which he purposed to spend the last days of a most useful and glorious life. To its mansion, since destroyed by fire, were the treasures of an Indian Prince con veyed; a in it the General lived in a manner befitting an English gentleman, and a British officer. Blackbrook is, our readers are aware, situated among some of the most beautiful scenery in our highly favoured county. Ls noble trees and amply diversified grounds strike with admiration the eve of every beholder ; and if its once fine, but now dsserted and dilapidated mansion, had been pre served in its former state, we scarcely know a property more deserving the attention of the capitalist. To sell this estate. Mr. Robins appeared on Friday last, in the romantically si tuated town of Ross ; and we question if a greater sensistion heel been for many yca-s excited there, than the presence of the great Potentate of the Hammer produced. A noble hotel has within the last year been erected upon the Prospect, which commands one of the finest views in England, and which, in external appearance and internal arrangements, may be said to rank among the very first in the kingdom. In the grand ball-room of this imposing structure, Mr. Robins early appeared, and when it was known that the business of the day was about to commence, the room be gan to present a brilliant and animated appearance. It was crowded in every part, and the attendance was most respec table. Mr. Robins commenced a most able speech by some apposite allusions to the history of the town in which he then stood, and next proceeded, in most glowing terms, to descant upon the matchless beauties of the scenery of the " Golden Wye," and imperceptibly brought the attention of his hearers to be directed towards Blackbrook, on the chief characteristics of which he most ably enlarged. We were surprised at the fidelity of his colouring, and wondered much at the extent of his local information. The state of the house, however— The roofless chamber and the ruined walls ; and of the grounds and offices— The ravaged hot-house and the rotting vise, The garden void of fruit—the vaults of wine— could not, however, he got over, although capable of imme diate restoration. The property was ultimately bought in at 8,000 guineas, a result which seemed to give Mr. Robins much mortification, and which even the great applause he received did not appear in any great degree to assuage. From Ross Mr. Robins proceeded to Monmouth, and on Friday last, appeared, professionally, at the Beaufort Arms, where he was met by a moat respectable and crowded auditory. Mr. Robins here fully maintained his wonted fame, and we felt much surprise that his well-rounded periods did not make the guineas leap from the pockets of many a monied man be fore him;—but, on that day at least, the age of enterprize as well as the age of chivalry, seemed to be over. Mr. Robins was li-tened to with marked attention and applause—but the offers of money, like the proposals of marriage to the maid " came but slowly iii." In vain did Mr. Robins tempt the ambition of his hearers by talking of future Parliamentary honours; the re-building of the house appeared to be a formidable h o c . staele;and the bidding, which commenced at B,oool,,languis d at 9,9501., and finally halted at 11,000 guineas, when the pro perty was bought in. One result has followed,on which we con gratulate our Monmouth friends—that is the li k e lihood of pe .s- sessing for at least some months in the year,so good a nd enterpris ing a neighbour as Mr. Robins, for although his invariable custom is never to purchase any property with the sale of which he s may been trusted at the hammer, yet, enchanted with a ll he h . _ a himself read and said about its value and the beauties of Hill stone, he has, since it was purchased in, become its proprietor for 11,000 guineas, independent of the timber, which is j ust _ 11,000 guineas les s th an Ge ne ral Brownrigge gave for it with the timber. Need we say that we wish Mr. Robins every success in his purchase. —Monmouth Merlin. TUNBRIDGE WELLS. The splendid hotel which has recently been constructed in the vicinity of Tunbridge Wells, under the direction of Mr. Decimus Burton, at an expense of twenty thousand pounds, is announced in our columns this evening to be let, on exceedingly moderate terms. Our readers may judge of its pretensions by a short ext rac t f rom M r . G eorge Robins's announcernen, viz. :—" That it will incline the hotel-keeper s throughout England to hide their diminished heads." And again it says thus :—" Her Majesty the Queen, selected this abode (before it was reconstructed and formed into the present magnificent hotel) as her favourite abode, thus ren dering the situation no longer equivocal ;" and so, by w ay of conclusion, he adds, " the rent will be unusually moderate for three years, and never after approach the value which it will arrive at under at healthy course of management." It is a singular coincidence that the public market, recently con structed in a first-rate manner, and very near to the hotel, is to be sold at the same time by Mr. Robins. At Petersfield last week, on the fall in wheat taking place, the bakers immediately lowered the price of bread 2d. a gallon—an example well worthy of imitation. IRELAND. The Irish Papers are principally occupied with comments on, and reports of, the recent proceedings at the public dinner given to Mr. O'Connell by the cit'zens of Cork. The speeches of Mr. O'Connell made on that occasion, which we gave yes terday, appear to have produced a great sensation throughout the country. That the progress of the " new agitation" will be less rapid than that which we have before witnessed, can be matter of doubt to no person who peruses the Irish Papers, shish indeed faithfully record the history of the present critical period. Lord Lyndhu-st and his co.obstructives in Parliament have called forth feelings in Ireland, and raised so stormy a spirit amongst her excitable population, that to appease the sister country by any " instalment" whatever, will now be a more difficult task for the Tories than ever. The Orange papers as usual, heap abuse on abuse and throw out from their vituperative columns all sorts of slander and vitu peration. But their labour is vain. They may nick-namel Mr. O'Connell " the Demon of Derryaane." They may deridingly laugh at the " Liberator ;" publish a false history of his origin and family ; traduce his private—vilify his public character ; make bad puns on the Precursor Society, and swear that Mr. O'Connell has no other object in view than to pocket I 00,000/. —the contemplated amount of the funds of that Society. The enemies to good government may order their scribes to fill whole columns of their news papers every day with trash of this sort. Their lies and extravagance arc now perfectly harmless, and will be as void of all effect or result whatever, as if the utterers had not done any portion of the dirty and discreditable work. • We subjoin an extract or two on the only other mal. tars noticed by the Irish papers except that engrossing topic to which we have just alluded. The ConeonaTioel.—A Correspondent assures us that the beggarly Corporation are about to offer the freedom of the city to some of the leading Catholics. This step is taken under orders from Apsley- House, conveyed by Recorder Shaw, and is for the purpose of neutralizing the odium which the conduct of the Lords, last session, on the Corporation Bill, is calcu lated to bring on them. But will not the Catholic citizens fling back the freedom in their Honours faces?—Dublin Eve ning Post. FIGHTING INTELLIGENCE.—A hostile meeting took place at Corofin, county Galway, on Saturday last, between James Henry Concannon, of Waterloo, Esq., and Edward Rochford, Sun-hill, Esq ; the former attended by Michael Bodkin, Quarry-Mount, Esq., and the latter by M. Costelloe, Esq., Galway. After firing four shots, without effect, the parties were withdrawn.-Dublin Evening Post. DONNYBROOK FAIR.-During the last three days it would appear that the " celebrated" fair of Donnybrook has been who wish restored sh to t oall its former glory." The weather, since the commencement the of the week, has been extremely fine , and offers the stro ngest i n d ucem ent for a trip to " de brook" to all atmospherepenetrate r throughom the t e h n e d dense of L c e l c o s u o d n of st r edeuts,t to w which fills the scene of fun itself, 'midst crowds of shattered jaunting cars, which cannot be distinguished at the distance of a dozen yards from the d us t which envelopes them. The best possible order is preserved by th e po li ce , and scarcely anything in the way of i a riot s allowed to take place. The hack cars are not allowed to approach nearer than I3ushfield avenue, and thus a world of confusion is prevented.—Freeman's Journal. LONGFORD POLITICS.—We have good reason to believe that Colonel Henry Whi te has resolved upon vacating his seat for Longford. We trust that the Conservatives will take the hint, and be upon the alert. It is probable that the Gallant Colonel will accept the Chiltren Hundred the first week of the ensuing Session. —Packet (Tory paper). ASSAULT ON TILE POLICE.---COLLEGE-STREET POLICE OFFICE.—This such Scots eede F tohe l tt p C ,shoa E ueafs b, Lieutenant inquiry the present pusn.p h ap: i ravb s eyoecls Ill reeeisecno o ttl eateoc r fmn n dhcatd i ea: n it irnstn g egee: noevnt(eddraal ever fora (last Thursday) with riot, and assaultingt two th e of f o the e Dawson-street last night. Mr. Tudor said that he regretted very much to see men who were actually employed to preserve efpsodlofrt appearedt Gaow insubordination atdovoyglbhdaeior therefore rh, wttilwha eeso iunderstoodnm eTba a n neb dangerous v cne i tg o at el belongedpe violence n oha c uait no e ts tendered bail for their appearance when called upon. It was stated in the office that the soldiers had been spending the evening at Donnybrook-fair, and having enjoyed 'themselves rather freely, they became very disorderly in their conduct, and whilst passing down Dawson-street the policeman inter fered, when he was instantly knocked down; be, in return, inflicted a tremendous wound on the head of one of the sol diers. A reinforcement of police arriving at the scene of ac tion succeeded in taking four of the soldiers to the station house. A gentleman also tendered informations against the soldiers for an assault previous to the attack on the policeman. THE CROPS. LATEST ARRIVALS. Considerable progress has been made on the higher soils in this district (Doncaster) in the cutting of the several corn crops. Extensive breadths of bailey and oats have fallen before the scythe ; and the sickle has been partially brought into operation in the cutting of wheat. The heavy rain which fell on Tuesday night has not retarded the exertions of the reaper so much as might have been expected. A brisk wind would doubtless that by crops. hai l which T he prevailed during the whole of the following day ; and its be neficial effects are visible on all hands, and fortunately hap pened tenot great accompaniediuje injury to t e haveor m done w a s weather since Tuesday has been remarkably favourable ; and should it happily continue—and the probability v i s that it wi.l now become settled—the result will be highly gratifying to all. We are glad to perceive that Earl Fitz william and several other extensive proprietors, have determined to defer shooting till the 17th of September, with the view that no injury may be done to the several corn crops. EAST RETFORD.-During this and the last week harvest operations in this neighbourhood have b occasional showe, but nothing either to injure the corn, or to prevent the labourers from pursuing their occupations. On the evening of Tuesday last, this neighbourhood was visited w ith one of the most awful thunder storms we ever recollect ; the rain positively fell in torrents, and the glare of the lightning was more vivid than we remember to have seen it. Early on the morning of the following day the wind began to arise, and by the usual time of commencing labour the corn was quite dry, and the weather hitherto has been oxceedingly fine, with a dry cold north-west wind. Many large breadths of land, particularly of barley and oats, h ave been safely housed in t h e very best con dition, and the cutting of the wheat generally is in full operation. Of t hi s grain no doubt now remain s th a t th e yield will be a full average one, and the quality is admitted to be remarkably ti ne , universally and free fro m all kinds of disease. Barley and oats are very heavy, and in point of quality have not been exceeded for very many years. The bean crop ripens slowly, but the pods are plentiful and well filled. The turnip crop cannot be better, and but few persons recollect it so good. Potatoes are framing well, and promises as larg e a yield, and those of a quality fully equ a l t o the one of last year. The apples are all but a total failure, whilst plums are so plentiful as in many instances to break down the branches with their extreme weight.—Doncaster Gazette. This part of the country has been • Wok~soP. again favoured with another week of such weather as is calculated to bring the fruits of the earth very fast to perfection. The farmers are now very busy in cutt in g down their corn, and some of them have already secured a little in good condition. The crops, as • far as our own observation has exte nded , and according to the in f o rmation of those whose judgment i s mor e to be relie d u p on, are really very good ; and the har vest, considering all thin g s, is in a prett y forward state,.._ Cornwall Gazette. The harvest has been proceeding most favourably during the past week, owing to the fineness of the weather, and the result will fully bear out all that we have hitherto anticipated as to its productiveness in Devonshire. The corn harvest in the neighbourhood of Southmolton is getting on rapidly, a great deal has already been harvested. A field belonging to Mr. John Surridge, of Sampford Pe verel, containing three acres of the finest wheat ever remem bered to have been grown in that parish, or for many parishes adjoining, was cut during the past week. It was supposed by competent judges, that it would realize full fifty bushels per acre. The corns have been counted from 120 to 140 in one ear, and in many ears the corns run six in a chace. We have seen a quantity of the cars, and counted them. This splendid wheat is named the Radical wheat, from its excellent good qualities, and finding its way straight down to the lower recesses of the victualling cffice--doing the consumer good all the way along. It is more than a match for Mr. T. II ' ussey sConser vative, the good qualities of which, however, such as they are, we should have introduced to ou r . readers, had we been favoured with particulars.—Western Ti m es. Heavy showers until Sunday last had, since our last account, continually thwarted the labours of the harvest field, but on that day the weather assumed a seasonable brightness, and has continued very fine to the present. Since then harvesting has Bern resumed with uninterrupted activity, and a great quantity of wheat and barley has been cut and set up in mows. Some injury has been done to the crops by the late rains, but on the whole more than an average may be expected ; and another fortnight of fine weather will see the whole of the corn in this c ounty safely housed.— West Briton. IRELAND.--The weather is glorious, and promises to rea lise our most sanguine anticipations. The accounts from the country are highly favourable. All the reports concur in this, that the harvest will be late ; and a late harvest in our climate is always a subject of great anxiety. Though, therefore, we may flatter ourselves with obtaining a full , o r nearly a full a verage crop, it i s , on the other b an d , , equ ally certain, as we took occasion to state more than once, that every pound of Foreign Grain under the Queen's key will be let into the market, at ten shillings, five, or half-a - cro wn dut y , before Christmas • f not at the mere nominal rate of a shilling.— Dublin Evening Post. BALLY MA IION. —This harvest has had as many lives as a cat, and nescaped dr owi , to fall legitimately. by the cold steel ; and the day I foret ol d (the 28th) the sickle commen ced at the wheat, and on to-morrow I will have the first wheat in the market, and a further supply by Saturday's market. The weather has at last in reality taken up, and the farmers are in high spirits, and tha next three weeks will be the busiest that came for twelve months ; for hay, turf, flax, and corn must be attended to. It is particularly gratifying to be enabled to remark that the gloomy bedings in which the agriculturist, not without reason, indulged, in consequence of the late harsh weather, have been partially, if nut wholly dissipated, an d have g iven place to joy and thankfulness. The weather since Thursday has set in beautifully fine—quickening the g rowth of every vegetable prod uct i on. Th e harvest, throughout the counties of Tipperary and Kilkenny, is general, and should the present weather continue, it will, we have no doubt, be saved for the greater part, by the termination of this week.— Waterford Chronicle. NEW YORK, AUG. 16.—0 f some interest to you will be the advices as to our summer crops. Our wheat harvest has been all gathered, and au abundant one it is too. It was cal culated that we should be able to export flour to the amount of some 10,000,000 of dollars before it became known that the Indian corn crops were so much injured. This will alter the destination of our surplus wheat. It will be required at home. In ordinary seasons the corn crop of the United States equal six times the wheat crop in measure. It is supposed that full one-fourth of the Indian corn growth will be lost by the drought. This loss will be equal to nearly three-fourths of the value of the wheat harvest, for maze generally bears a price in proportion to wheat as one is to two. Already the stocks of maize in all our marts have been taken on specu lation. In this city it is up to one hundred cents. per bushel—almost equal to the price of new wheat in Rich mond. Luckily fur the cotton planter, he has in nearly every instance cultivated corn enough to keep his negrocs dur ing the coming season, so that the surplus maize of Ohio will come eastwards. Rye, oats, potatoes, and buck wheat hare suffered equally with maize. Whisky has risen in price, for a large portion of this liquor is made from maize. In an area 900 miles in extent, comprising New Jersey and part of Penn sylvania, Maryland, and all Delaware, so severe has been the drought that many of the farmers have cut: up their maize fields, for the sako of the fodder, and arc preparing the ground for a winter crop. In parts of Virginia and North Carolina, up to the 7th instant, they had not been blessed with rain since the fiest week in June. This was especially the case in the region round about Raleigh, North Carolina. In Balti more maize ha. - i risen to 100 cents., and no supply to meet the demand. New wheat in the middle states ranges from 120 to 165 cents. per bushel of GO pounds. The price of new flour here is 7 dol. 50e., and in Cincinnati, 4 dol. 50c. per barrel. GREAT WESTERN STEAM-SHIP. On board the Steam-ship Great Western, of Bristol, 29th August, 1838. SlR—The undersigned gentlemen having been selected by all their fellow-passengers, 87 in number, on board this ship, to testify their entire conviction of the success of the highly important enterprise which the vessel is embarked in, they un hesitatingly declare their fullest confidence in the efficiency of the Great Western to navigate the Atlantic Ocean, from the superiority and strength of her construction, the excellence of her engines, and the unremitting attention of her Commander to all the duties committed to your care. They likewise feel it due to the Proprietors, to express their sense of obligation for the arrangements and ample supply for their comforts (lur ing the passage; and they conclude by an ardent prayer for a continuation of that prosperity which has hitherto attended this undertaking, as well as their sincere thanks to you, Sir, whose talents and alacrity have so eminently contributed to this result. The Committee, moreover, feel that they are only doing justice to the sentiments of their fellow-passengers, in request ing that every publicity may be given to the above declaration in England, France, and the United States. John G. Gamble, Florida. I— Dumagerood, France. Sarni. Swartwout. New York. 'John M. Laughlin. _ _ _ T. Lamount, United States. 'F. Vancennes,Columbia River. W. Strickland, Philadelphia. J. K. Wedderburne, England. H. Bagot, Commander, R. N. W. J. Keith, ditto. Geo. Knight, Havannah. To Capt. Husker), R.N., C Steam-ship Great I )mmander of the 'estern. LLOYD'S SHIPPING.-(THIS DAY.) DEAL, AUG. 31.—Wind W.S.W., fine.—Came down from the River, and proceeded, the Meanwell, Duck, for Rio Janeiro. The Premier, Were, for Canton, remains. PORTSMOUTH, Ave. 31.—Wind W., fine.—Arrived her Majesty's ship Gorgon, from the eastward; Duke of Welling ton, from Archangel. The Rosinante, Arrilawna, from St. Ander, put in here with loss of bulwarks, &c., having been in contact with her Majesty's ship Gorgon—bound to Scotland. PLYMOUTH, AUG. 31.—Wind N. W.—Arrived the British Union, from Prince Edward's Island—sailed 4th inst. ; Vene tian. Andrews, from Galipoli. FALMOUTH, AUG 30. Wind N. W., moderate breezes, and fine. Arrived the Carelew, Christian, from Dunkirk. HULL, AUG. 31.—Arrived the Matilda, Cock, from Neu stadt ; Petrel, Bell, from Archangel ; Marianne, Hanson, from Copenhagen; Hope, Paty, from Dantzig ; Willink, Brandt, from Kiel. HARWICH, Auo. 31.—Arrived the Henriettc, Egholme, from Copenhagen. WAINFLEET, AVG. 30. —Two vessels, names unknown, went down yesterday, with all hands; one upon Kerock, the other in Boston Deeps. WELLS, Auo. 31. —The bottom of a vessel of about 60 tons, but without any mark, has been picked up off Holme Point. LIVERPOOL, AUG. 31. —The Sidney, for New Orleans, is aground on the Middle Patch, Formby Channel. HUMBER, Auc. 31.—Arrived the Harmony. LIVERPOOL, AUG. 31.—Wind W., moderate.—Arrived the Salvadore, from Licata. Arrived off port, the Alice, from Barbadoes. Sailed, the Colombian, for New South Wales; Robertson, for Quebec; Georgia, fur New Orleans; Naiad, for Messina; Amelia, Lister, for Geneva ; Tremont, Hall, for Natchez; Arethusa, Turner, for Demerara; Turbo, for Boston; Trunchall, for Newfoundland; Sidney, for New Or leans; Thomas for Trinidad; Wilberforce, for Africa; Reso lution, for Mirarnichi ; Pactolus, for Philadelphia. SWANAGE, AUG. 31.—Arrived off, Berger, Vali], Bahia. BRISTOL, Ave. 31.—Arrived the Capea, from Virginia ; and Neva, from Archangel. CARDIFF, AUG. 31.--Arrived the Vesta, Gallenden, Memel. MILFORD, Arcs. 31.—Arrived the Antceas, G:egson, from Smyrna. Off ditto, the Emma, Cove, from Oporto; Age noria, Evans, from Licata. DUBLIN, AUG. 30. —Arrived the Shannon steamer, London. LONDONDERRY, AUG. 29.—Arrived the Rebecca, Drake, from St. Juhn's, N B. CORK, AUG. 29.—Arrived the Smith, Harris, from Mira machi ; Earl Durham, Atkins, from Quebec; Geo. Harper, Owens, from Leghorn. DOVER, Auo 31.—Arrived off port, the Venus, Gronbreck, From Cadiz. The Carnatic, Richards, which sailed from Mauritius on the 18th April, for London, has put hack, having experienced bad weather off the Bauc des Aigeullis. The British Union, arrived at Plymouth, spoke the Cum. berlaud, of Newcastle, from London, the 25th ult., in lat. 50, long. 13 ; arid Ceres, from Liverpool, the 27th ult., in lat. 50, long. 11. The Antceus, Grcgson, arrived at Milford, spoke the Alert, Newport, bound to Trieste, the 2d ult. 'The Earl Durham, Atkins, arrived at Cork, spoke Mary and Isabella, from London to Miramichi, the Bth ult., lat. 46. long. 57 ; Mary White, from Belfast to Quebec, the 16th ult. lat 49. long. 36. ; Doncaster, from Quebec to Llanelly, the 22d ult., lat. 50. long. 25. ; Hero, of Workington, bound to Quebec, and Louisa, from Liverpool to Ariehat, the 26th ult., lat. 51., long. 10. The Smith, Harris, arrived at Cork, spoke the Mary of Newcastle, bound to Quebec, the 27th ult., lat. 50. long. 11. ; Henry of Harrington, bound to Restigouche, the 22d ult., lat. 48. Jong. 27. The Virgil, bound to Mexico, has put into New Orleans baying been ordered off by the French squadron. THE HIGHLANDS. The " lialf 7 foot" system, under which such a vast multitude of cottars . contrive to eke out their scanty means of support, comes now to be described. These people are undoubtedly the poorest and most dependent of all the Highland popula tion. They generally rear their dwellings about the outskirts of large tacksmen's farms, as well as in every locality where they can find a footing. They meet with kindness and indul gence to a degree which those on whom they are a burden can in general but ill afford. Such of them as raise small quanti ties of oats, do so in the following manner : The tacksman allots a portion of ground for them, which they till with the " cas-chrom," and when ready for sowing, the tacksman fur nishes one-half of the seed, and the cottars the other half. The cottar then sows and harrows the ground, which he watches and protects until harvest, when he reaps it, securing the one-half of the sheaves for the tacksman, as remuneration for the ground, and the other half for himself. In the same manner, also, the cottar raises potatoes for his family. As the potatoes require manure, the tacksman allows him to cut sea-ware, which he carries in creels to the ground ; and after receiving one-half of the seed from the tacksman, furnishing the other half himself, he plants the same, and watches over its growth, until he lift the potatoes in harvest, when he gives one-half the produce for the use of. the ground, and and has the other half himself. Somet i mes the cottar is permitted to which i s a ll owe d to range w i th the other cattle of In this case, besides the oats and p otatoes wh i ch t h i a le ve fa a rm co . w, be raises on the " half-foot" system just described, the land occupier generally gives him - a piece of ground wherein to plant potatoes with the manure of his cow, the produce of which he keeps entirely for himself. For the said cow and ground h e pays the land-occupier partly, perhaps, in money, but for the most part in labour, either as "grass-k ee p er ," or b y cutt i ng pcats, mowing grass, reaping corn, or such other employ ments as may be required about the farm.— Quarterly Jour nal of Agriculture. RAILWAY LABOUR. —The spot on which the men employed on the Great Western Railway are now at work has been, perhaps, the greatest rendezvous of railway labourers in the world. Within a few yards of each other, winding be tween the new Cemetery and the Hippodrome, runs the lines of the Thames Junction, the Great Western, and the London and Birmingham Railways. A canal and a high road also intersect the way. The whole space swarms with exca vators, navigators, engineers, stokers, coal-breakers, stone. smashers, tunnel labourers, and all that amphibious subter ranean race of men who labour in the various capacities of railway producers. The St. James's Theatre is about to change hands for a few years through the instrumentality of Mr. George Robins. Brahmin, the most splendid of all English vocalists, asks for a little repose, and it is known that the manager of a Theatre " sleeps not on a bed of roses." Mr. Mitchell is in treaty for the approaching season for his Opera Bea, for which it is admirably suited. An inquest was held yesterday, in Westminster, on the body of William Cumming, a private in the Ist battalion of the Scotch Fusileers, who, as proved in evidence, commit ted suicide by throwing himself int 9 the soil in the privy of the Wellington barracks. He could not have fallen in by ac cident. Ho was taken out quite dead. Deceased had been lately i n t h e h a bi t of attending an Irvingite chape l i n West minster, an d h a d b ecome much dejected. Verdict—" Tem porary derangement." NAVAL IN TELLI y............** (FROM OUR OWN CORR:SP3ND T. ' '-''' h ' :544 11 ' 4 ' PORTSMOUT,I, AUO. 31.—1 n Harhour—T__ . 414_ ' flag ship; Victory, 104, ordinary guard shi , xcellent, gunnery ship ; Royal George, yacht ; Pantaloon, 10 ; and Fanny and Gossamer, tenders. In the Basin —The Hastings, 74, fitting for .he reception of the Queen Dowager ; Actwln, 28, for Scuth America; and the Orestes, 18, for the coast of Africa. In Dock—The Messenger, steam transport. At Spithead—The Edinburgh, 74, at present fitting a shell room, and destined to accompany the Hastings to Malta ; the Pique, 36, awaiting orders; the Gorgon steam frigate, for the North Coast of Spain ; and the Stakesby, transport. ARRIVALS, SAILINGS, &c. DURING THE WEEK. On Saturday, the 25th, sailed the Tribune, 24, for Lisbon ; and on Sunday arrived the Seaflower cutter, from Sheerness. On Wednesday, the 29th, arrived the Gossamer, tender, fi cm Plymouth, with Supernumeraries. Oa Thursday, the 30th, arrived the Firebrand, steam 'vessel, from Milford ; and the Stakesby, transport, from the Eastward. - On Friday, the 31st, arrived the Gorgon, steam frigate, from the Eastward; sailed the Firebrand, steam vessel, for Woolwich ; the Sea cower, cutter, for Jersey, to protect the oyster fishery. We have not bad any thing of great moment going on here during the past week. An attetript Las been made to blow op the wreck of the Boyne. It was constructed by Mr. Abb;nett, who placed a cylinder, containing 'about five hundred pounds of powder, near her, which en exploding sent up a column of water to the height of about twenty feet, and some considerable quantity of fish, but no large portion of the wreck ; however, as it is to lie fairly supposed that her tim bers have become embedded in the mud, &c., the full effect of the explosion will only be ascertained when an opportunity offers of Mr. Abbinett's inspection by the means of his diving apparatus. The Gorgon will take the old Venerable in tow to Plymouth, when the former will proceed to the north coast of Spain, and the latter be broken up ; she now lays alongside the Jetty, jury-rigged, respectable even in her last days, for with her, it has been a life well and ho nourably spent. The Atalanta has b. en the steam-boat hired for the transport of troops between this and Jersey ; she will sail this evening for nat island, with part of the 47th Regi ment on board, and will also take her usual number of passen gers, as she is a regularly established packet. RESPITE OF THE TWO FEMALES ORDERED FOR EXECUTION AT CHESTER ON SATURDAY (THIS DAY.) At a vestry meeting of the parishioners of St. Martin's held on Wednesday evening last for the purpose of petitioning her most Gracious Majesty for a commutation of the extrem? sen tence of the law on Dinah Jones and Rachacl Mitchell, con victed at the last assizes before Mr. Baron Gurney of the crime of infanticide, it was resolved that every possible exer tion should be used to obtain the signatures of the inhabitants, and that a deputation should wait upon the Home Secretary with the same. After the meeting dissolved, more than twenty of the parishioners, who had attended and advocated the cause of the two unhappy females, canvassed the parish, and in less than three hours obtained 740 signatures, amongst whom were most of the influential inhabitants of the parish. The petition with the signatures was forwarded 11 et; rasa (as no time was to be lost) to the Isle of Wight, wuere Lord John Russel is at present sojourning. In the meantime the greatest possible exertions were making at Chester to prevent the extreme penalty of the law upon the two wretched young women. The Mayor, with a deputation, consisting of the principal inhabitants, assembled for the purpose of wait ing upon the Learned Judge, whose painful duty it it had been to adjudge the criminals to suffer. They, however, received no satisfactory answer, as the petition was necessarily com pelled to be forwarded to the Home Secretary. Yesterday evening Mr. Wilks, one of the churchwardens, and Mr. Simpson, of St. Martin's, waited upon Mr Capper at the Home Secretary's Office, when that gentleman in formed them that the petition had reached the Queen, who had immediately called a Privy Council upon the subject, the result of which had been (after a conference of near an hour) that the two females should be respited during her Royal pleasure; the happy intelligence was instantly forwarded to the authorities at Chester, and will reach that city more than two hours before the time appointed for the execution. LONDON AND SOUTHAMPTON RAILWAY. The eighth half-yearly general meeting of the proprietors of this Company was held yesterday at the City of London Tavern, JOHN EASTHOPE, Esq., M. P. in the Chair. The minutes of the last half-yearly mee:ing having been read and confirmed, The SECRETARY read the Report, which showed a receipt of 1,247,795/. 4s. 4d., and an outlay of 1,241,276/. 19s. 4d., leaving a balance in hand of 6,516/. ss. It also congratulated the proprietors upon the unexpected success of the undertak ing, so far as it has yet been opened—it had only reached to Woking-common, which was a terminus situated neither near any large town nor did it approach any of the great lines of road, yet the passenger traffic had greatly exceeded the esti mates laid before Parliamcnt. " During the t‘N elve weeks up to the 12th instant there have beet, carried 93,795 passengers. The amount received has been 11,0591. 17s. 3d. " Of these were carried, during the first four weeks, 29,127; being a daily average of 1,040 passengers. Amount received, 3,08 A 18s. 11 d. " During the second four weeks there were carried 31,585 ; being a daily average of 1,128 passengers. Amount received, 3,7551. Os. Bd. " And there were carried during the third four week s 33,083 ; being a daily average of 1,181 passengers. Amount received, 4,2181. 17s. 71d. " Thus showing a steady gradual increase of traffic. " As respects a more extended opening of the line, the directors meet the proprietors on equally satisfactory grounds. But fur the hindrances which experience proves to be insepa rable from the completion of extensive works, the directors would have so far exceeded their former promises as to have this day congratulated the proprietors on that further opening which, by the Roport of the 28th February last, it was con fidently hoped to effect during the autumn of the present year.' As it is, the Directors have fixed the 18th of next month for that opening. Tbis opening will take the Railway to Shapley, which is within a short distance of the great south-western road. The embankments between that point and Basingstoke will be finished before the close of the pre sent year, and the rails (which are already contracted for) will be laid so as to open the line to that town, or farther, very early in the spring. ‘-‘ The works between Basingstoke and Winchester are pro ceeding, with great energy. The zeal and ability of the con tractor are, from previous experience, known to he such as to afford the greatest confidence to the Directors in the progress of the works intrusted to him. " The works between Winchester and Southampton are in a vtry advanced state : the Directors have not yet determined whether it will be expedient to open that part of the line be fore the coming winter. " The Proprietors are perhaps aware that the traffic has, up to the present time, been confined to the conveyance of pas sengers. No goods or cattle have been carried along the rail way : the means for so doing are in active preparation. " In conformity with the resolution passed at the general half•yearly meeting held in February last, the Directors have caused a survey to be made for a branch line to Portsmouth and Gosport, and have also taken the necessary steps for ap plying to Parliament next Session for leave to make that line; and they recommend the Proprietors now to adopt such reso lutions as will enable the Directors of the London and South. ampton Railway to complete that design." The CHAIRMAN then addressed the meeting, recapitulating and dilating upon the facts stated in the Report, and stating that be and his brother Directors were anxious for the full, st enquiry into their conduct, and therefore he was ready to anwer any question that might be put to him. The Report was ordered to be received, printed, and circu lated amongst the Proprietors. The second resolution, which was in the following terms, " That in pursuance of the preparatory and preliminary pro ceedings, already authorised, for extending a branch of this railway to Portsmouth or Gosport, both or either, the Directors he now authorised and requested to adopt such measures and to enter into such a. rangements as they shall deem expedient for procuring the necessary capital and obtaining the sanction of Parliament thereto," was then read, and carried unani mously. Bye-laws founded upon those of the London and Birming ham Railway Company were then agreed to, and in answer to a question from a Proprietor, The CHAIRMAN said the Company had not yet been applied to by the Post-office to carry the mails, and he trusted the authorities of that office would excuse them until the spring. After a vote of thanks to the Directors the meeting sepa rated. GARDENING OPERATIONS FOR THE WEEK. (From the Gardeners' Gazette.) Syringe all plants in the stove that have the least indication of the red spider or aphis. Admit a good deal of air daily into stove and greenhouse, and the conservatories in which plants aro in the ground should be literally uncovered if possible. Fresh potting should be continued as fast as any of the rpots fill the old ones. Persons desirous of raising new fruits or stocks should pre serve stones, seeds, and kernels, for the gurpose of sowing. Trench all pound intended for the planting out of young trees or shrubs. Weed seedlings of all kinds, neglect in this particular with young plants will often totally destroy them. Plant all autumnal flowering bulbs. Cut up weeds in gravel walks. musts, Wall-flowers, e a I p l a fi n o t w e d e r s o , u twon yeareither Stocks, and ise ßiennials ' generally, to remain for flowering or to grow into strength for moving .NV a m into borders at the proper time. Sow Auriculas, Ranuneulas, Anemonies, Tulips, and seeds of bulbs generally. Pipings of Pinks may be planted out. Clear Vines of all useless shoots : even those which have bees done r equire it again. Gather herbs to dry. Sow Cauliflower seed, Brom'', &c. Sow Carrots to stand the winter : also Onions for winter and spring drawing. Despatches were received yesterday at the Colonial department from the Government of South Australia. S 14' - ~~~. .I' f = ~~C`~'. 4 '6" ' ;f l %k tr.'